Martyn’s Notes On Jaffna Chronological, Historical, Biographical

The author reveals that to his countrymen, the Jaffnese, to whom Jaffna should ever be dear, this interesting compilation, written by the son of the first photographer and journalist of Ceylon, is of the various important dates in the history starting with the advent of the Portuguese in 1505. Its goes on to cover the Dutch period in a short cap to reach the copious section of the British period that commenced in 1795 and continues till the author?s time of compiling in the 1920s. Although it covers the eras of the Portuguese and Dutch are over in few pages but the record of the events of the British stretch over 125 pages. The chronological table of events has been compiled from reliable sources. In the notes is brought together from various sources, information which the young reader will find interesting and useful regarding the advent and establishment of the different missions working in the North, the rise and growth of educational, religious other public institutions and noteworthy incidents and details in the lives of sons of the soil, who have risen to prominence and public recognition. Another wonderful part of this book is 442 short notes on the places, people, history, scandals, poetry, celebrations, and arrival of ships that make the book interesting to those who know Jaffna only by name.